Bhainsla softens stand, says ready to talk

Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bhainsla on Thursday said he could consider talking to the Rajasthan government provided it made a "proper proposal".

"We are willing to talk through our representatives with the state government, if the government makes a proper proposal," Bhainsla told reporters without specifying what he meant by "proper proposal".

"However, we will not settle for anything less than ST status and we will not move from here till we have the recommendation letter from the state government," he said.

Seventy-year-old Bhainsla earlier addressed a rally to observe "martyrs' day" in memory of those killed in the agitation since last year.

Some of the agitating Gujjar leaders said the state government had not sent any formal invitation to the community for talks, except giving newspapers advertisements and distributing pamphlets.